Adjacent Words

Inform definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

INFORM', v.t. [L. informo, to shape; in and formo, forma, form.]
Properly, to give form or shape to, but in this sense not used.
1. To animate; to give life to; to actuate by vital powers.
Let others better mold the running mass
Of metals, and inform the breathing brass.
Breath informs this fleeting frame.
--Breathes in our soul, informs our vital part.
[This use is chiefly or wholly poetical.]
2. To instruct; to tell to; to acquaint; to communicate knowledge to; to make known to by word or writing; usually followed by of. Before we judge, we should be well informed of the facts relating to the case. A messenger arrived and informed the commander of the state of the troops. Letters from Europe inform us of the commencement of hostilities between the Persians and Turks.
3. To communicate a knowledge of facts to one by way of accusation.
Tertullus informed the governor against Paul. Acts 24.
In this application the verb is usually intransitive; as, A informed against B.
INFORM', v.i. To give intelligence.
He might either teach in the same manner, or inform how he had been taught--
To inform against, to communicate facts by way of accusation; to give intelligence of a breach of law. Two persons came to the magistrate, and informed against A.
INFORM', a. [L. informis.] Without regular form; shapeless; ugly.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to; "I informed him of his rights"
2: give character or essence to; "The principles that inform modern teaching"
3: act as an informer; "She had informed on her own parents for years"

Merriam Webster's

verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French enformer, from Latin informare, from in- + forma form Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. obsolete to give material form to 2. a. to give character or essence to <the principles which inform modern teaching> b. to be the characteristic quality of ; animate <the compassion that informs her work> 3. obsolete guide, direct 4. obsolete to make known 5. to communicate knowledge to <inform a prisoner of his rights> intransitive verb 1. to impart information or knowledge 2. to give information (as of another's wrongdoing) to an authority <informed on a member of his own gang> Synonyms: inform, acquaint, apprise, notify mean to make one aware of something. inform implies the imparting of knowledge especially of facts or occurrences <informed us of the crisis>. acquaint lays stress on introducing to or familiarizing with <acquaint yourself with the keyboard>. apprise implies communicating something of special interest or importance <keep us apprised of the situation>. notify implies sending notice of something requiring attention or demanding action <notified the witness when to appear>.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. 1 tr. (usu. foll. by of, about, on, or that, how + clause) tell (informed them of their rights; informed us that the train was late). 2 intr. (usu. foll. by against, on) make an accusation. 3 tr. (usu. foll. by with) literary inspire or imbue (a person, heart, or thing) with a feeling, principle, quality, etc. 4 tr. impart its quality to; permeate. Derivatives: informant n. Etymology: ME f. OF enfo(u)rmer f. L informare give shape to, fashion, describe (as IN-(2), forma form)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Inform In*form", a. [L. informis; pref. in- not + forma form, shape: cf. F. informe] Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed. --Cotton.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Inform In*form", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Informed; p. pr. & vb. n. Informing.] [OE. enformen, OF. enformer, F. informer. L. informare; pref. in- in + formare to form, share, fr. forma form. See Form.] 1. To give form or share to; to give vital ororganizing power to; to give life to; to imbue and actuate with vitality; to animate; to mold; to figure; to fashion. ``The informing Word.'' --Coleridge. Let others better mold the running mass Of metals, and inform the breathing brass. --Dryden. Breath informs this fleeting frame. --Prior. Breathes in our soul,informs our mortal part. --Pope. 2. To communicate knowledge to; to make known to; to acquaint; to advise; to instruct; to tell; to notify; to enlighten; -- usually followed by of. For he would learn their business secretly, And then inform his master hastily. --Spenser. I am informed thoroughky of the cause. --Shak. 3. To communicate a knowledge of facts to,by way of accusation; to warn against anybody. Tertullus . . . informed the governor against Paul. --Acts xxiv. 1. Syn: To acquaint; apprise; tell; teach; instruct; enlighten; animate; fashion.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Inform In*form", v. t. 1. To take form; to become visible or manifest; to appear. [Obs.] It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes. --Shak. 2. To give intelligence or information; to tell. --Shak. He might either teach in the same manner,or inform how he had been taught. --Monthly Rev. To inform against, to communicate facts by way of accusation against; to denounce; as, two persons came to the magistrate, and informed against A.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(informs, informing, informed) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. If you inform someone of something, you tell them about it. They would inform him of any progress they had made... My daughter informed me that she was pregnant... 'I just added a little soy sauce,' he informs us. VERB: V n of n, V n that, V n with quote, also V n 2. If someone informs on a person, they give information about the person to the police or another authority, which causes the person to be suspected or proved guilty of doing something bad. Thousands of American citizens have informed on these organized crime syndicates. VERB: V on n 3. If a situation or activity is informed by an idea or a quality, that idea or quality is very noticeable in it. (FORMAL) All great songs are informed by a certain sadness and tension... The concept of the Rose continued to inform the poet's work. VERB: be V-ed by n, V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Animate, inspire, quicken, give life to. 2. Acquaint, apprise, advise, tell, notify, make known to, mention to, give notice to, signify to, send word to, write word to.

Moby Thesaurus

acquaint, advertise, advertise of, advise, animate, announce, apprise, babble, be indiscreet, be unguarded, betray, betray a confidence, blab, blabber, blurt, blurt out, break the news, brief, bring word, broaden the mind, catechize, civilize, communicate, demonstrate, direct, disclose, divulge, due, edify, educate, embue, endow, endue, enlighten, enliven, exalt, exhilarate, familiarize, fill in, finger, fire, forewarn, give a report, give away, give instruction, give lessons in, give notice, give the facts, give tidings of, give word, ground, guide, identify, illuminate, illumine, imbue, impart, implicate, incriminate, infect, inform on, infuse, inject, inoculate, inspire, inspirit, instruct, keep posted, leak, leave word, leaven, let drop, let fall, let know, let slip, mention to, nark, notify, open the eyes, peach, permeate, pimp, post, rat, reeducate, rehearse, relate, report, reveal, reveal a secret, rumor, school, send word, serve notice, set right, sharpen the wits, show, show how, sing, snitch, snitch on, speak, spill, spill the beans, spirit, spirit up, squeak, squeal, stool, talk, tattle, tattle on, teach, teach a lesson, teach the rudiments, tell, tell on, tell secrets, tell tales, tip off, turn in, verse, warn, write up